De Jong, Mancini hail City strength

25 Sep 2010 18:26:14

| Submit Comments| Comments (29)| Printable Version1/1Play SlideshowClose MapKolo Toure clears under pressure from Didier DrogbaManchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong hailed a strong defensive display as Roberto Mancini's men claimed a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Eastlands. Carlos Tevez's second-half strike ended the champions' 100 per cent start to the Barclays Premier League season. "We knew that we had to win today," De Jong said on Sky Sports 2. "We just have to work hard and continue this. "From the first minute we put the pressure on. "If you saw how we defended from the front to the back that's why we kept a clean sheet." Mancini felt his team did well to stop Chelsea scoring. "After five games they scored 21 goals. Chelsea are a fantastic team. Our guys today played a strong, strong match. "We closed all the space for them and when we had the chance we played football." However, Mancini is still tipping Chelsea to win the Premier League. "I still think they will win it easily because I think they are the best team in the Premier League," he added. "It is not possible for them to score five goals every game. "Sometimes you might get a result like today. But they are the better team." Tevez's 59th-minute solo effort was his fourth goal of the season, and his industrious performance on his own up front kept the Chelsea defence occupied in a tactical battle which City controlled largely due to the excellence of their own work at the back. The South American charged forward after collecting Yaya Toure's short pass, jinked right and then drilled a precise shot through Ashley Cole's legs and in off the far post. It was part of an overall contribution which showed exactly why Mancini made the decision to hand the striker the captain's armband in preference to Kolo Toure this season. "Carlos is a fantastic striker," said Mancini. "Not only because he scored but because he fights all the time against tall players. "At this moment we don't have all our players, so for him to be on his own is not easy for him." Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted City deserved the victory. He said: "We didn't play how we wanted. We suffered from the pressure in midfield Man City put on us. We didn't have the possibility to show our quality. "Man City had a very good performance. In midfield they used a lot of power. Man City deserved to win. Man City have a lot of quality to fight for the title." What was key to the City victory? Have your say.| Submit Comments| Comments (29)| Printable VersionAdd A CommentEnter your comments:Sending